Armored flexible electrical conduit with fittings

Abstract

An . .angularly adjustable.!. angularly adjustable electrical conduit fitting includes an articulate metal conduit bendable at least 90 degrees about an arc having an inside radius of curvature not exceeding 12 inches, the conduit . .in its preferred from.!. being between 193/4 and 203/4 inches long in a contracted state and being extendable by between 21% and 23% of its contracted length and having at one end a conduit coupling and at its opposite end a conduit or wall opening connector.

I claim: 
     
       1. An angularly adjustable electrical conduit fitting device comprising an extendible and contractible flexible conduit . .bendable at least to 90 degrees about a curve having an inside radius not exceeding 12 inches.!. and an electrical fitting secured to and communicating with each end of said conduit, at least one of said fittings being an electrical conduit connector, said conduit being articulate and including a plurality of successive relatively longitudinally slidable segments interlocked against longitudinal separation, each of said segments including a cylindrical body portion having an upper section terminating at its top in an inwardly directed peripheral flange joined to a depending cylindrical upper hook free leg and a lower section coaxial with and of lesser diameter than said upper section and terminating at its bottom in an outwardly directed peripheral flange joined to an upwardly projecting cylindrical lower hook free leg, said depending upper hook free leg having an inner face slidable engaging the outside face of the lower section of the next successive upper segment and said upwardly projecting lower hook free leg having an outside face slidably engaging the inside face of the upper section of the next successive lower segment, one of said hook legs of each of said segments having formed in the face thereof confronting the opposing face of said cylindrical body a peripheral groove. ., and further including a packing located in said groove and engaging said opposing face.!.. 
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said conduit in its fully contracted state is between 193/4 and 203/4 inches long. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim . .3.!. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said conduit is extendable from its fully contracted state between 21% and 23%. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1 wherein said conduit has an inside diameter between 2.735 and 2.765 inches. .Iadd.5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a packing located in said groove and engaging said opposing face..Iaddend..Iadd.6. The device of claim 1 wherein said extendible and contractible flexible conduit is bendable to at least 90 degrees about a curve having an inside radius not exceeding 12 inches..Iaddend..Iadd.7. An angularly adjustable electrical conduit fitting device comprising: (a) an extendible and contractible flexible conduit which comprises a helically wound strip which forms a plurality of successive relatively longitudinally slidable segments wherein each said slidable segment is interlocked with adjacent successive slidable segments, each said slidable segment comprises: (i) an upper section having an upwardly directed interior wall terminating at its top with an outwardly projecting arcuate peripheral flange which terminates with a downwardly directed exterior wall,   (ii) a lower section having a downwardly directed exterior wall terminating at its bottom with an inwardly projecting arcuate peripheral flange which terminates with an upwardly directed interior wall, and   (iii) a means for connecting said upper and lower sections of said slidable segment together,     wherein said slidable segment is connected to the next successive lower slidable segment and to the next successive upper slidable segment such that said lower section of said slidable segment is coaxial with said upper section of said next successive lower slidable segment wherein said downwardly directed exterior wall of said upper section of said next successive lower slidable segment having an outer surface slidably engaging an inner surface of said downwardly directed exterior wall of said lower section of said slidable segment and wherein said lower section of said next successive upper slidable segment is coaxial with said upper section of said slidable segment wherein said downwardly directed exterior wall of said upper section of said slidable segment having an outer surface slidably engaging an inner surface of said downwardly directed exterior wall of said lower section of said next successive upper slidable segment; and   (b) an electrical fitting secured to and communicating with each end of said conduit..Iaddend..Iadd.8. The device of claim 7 wherein said conduit in its fully contracted state is between 193/4 and 203/4 inches long..Iaddend..Iadd.9. The device of claim 8 wherein said conduit is extendable from its fully contracted state between 21% and 23%..Iaddend..Iadd.10. The device of claim 7 wherein said conduit has an inside diameter between 2.735 and 2.765 inches..Iaddend..Iadd.11. The device of claim 7 further comprising a peripheral groove formed in said upwardly directed interior wall of said lower section of said slidable segments..Iaddend..Iadd.12. The device of claim 11 further comprising a packing located in said peripheral groove and engaging the respective inner surface of said upwardly directed interior wall of said upper section of said next successive slidable segment..Iaddend..Iadd.13. The device of claim 7 wherein said extendible and contractible flexible conduit is bendable to at least 90 degrees about a curve having an inside radius not exceeding 12 inches..Iaddend.